LIMERICK — Moses Gerry and Jonathan Seaman were best friends for most of their lives.

They lived next door to each other on Cannon Hill Road and shared similar interests in four-wheeling, fishing and the outdoors.

Gerry, 32, lived with his wife, Amber, their sons, Mason, 4, and Weston, 2. She is expecting their third child in September.

Seaman, 31, shared a home with his longtime girlfriend, Michelle Merrifield.

On Friday night, the two men were coming home from dinner when the car Gerry was driving veered off Route 11 in Newfield and crashed into trees.

Maine State Police say speed was a factor in the accident, which happened on a curve in the road. News reports of the accident indicate the car split in half and both men died at the scene from their injuries.

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Gerry was remembered by his family and friends on Monday as an honest, genuine and hard-working guy who had a passion for cars and strove to create a better life.

Amber Gerry, 25, talked on Monday about the life her husband built for himself and for his family.

He had been a BMW-certified master technician at Bill Dodge Auto Group in Westbrook for the past three and a half years or so.

She said he was a loving husband and dedicated father, who enjoyed playing with his boys.

“We had a wonderful life,” she said. “He was a good dad. He loved his boys. One of his favorite things was mowing the lawn with them. He liked taking them to his dad’s garage in Limerick.”

In the three days since the accident, Gerry’s wife and children have struggled to accept that he is gone. His youngest son thinks he is still at work. His son, Mason, is beginning to understand that his father is in “heaven.”

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“I told Mason that he could yell up to him that his dad is always watching him,” his wife said.

Gerry’s co-workers at Bill Dodge are trying to understand the early death of a man with talent and a passion for life.

Stephen Crossman, a service manager at Bill Dodge, said Gerry was widely considered one of the best technicians there. Crossman touted his skill level, productivity and willingness to help others in the shop.

He said Gerry built a couple of his own cars, including the wheels.

“For a man his age, he had talent beyond belief,” Crossman said. “Moses was the type of guy that was very passionate about everything he did. He was always looking to make things better around him. He was an unbelievable guy. Everyone here misses him dearly.”

Gerry and Seaman grew up together and attended the same elementary and middle schools. Gerry graduated from Massabesic High School in 1998. Seaman also attended Massabesic and was a year behind Gerry.

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Seaman was remembered by his family on Monday as a strong and hard-working guy who was fiercely loyal to his friends and family.

Most recently, he worked with his brother, Michael Seaman, as a carpenter on Peaks Island. His brother said he was a skilled carpenter who was dedicated to his work.

“He was an excellent carpenter,” his brother said. “He knew what he was doing. He was there every day.”

Seaman’s brother was close to Gerry, too.

“We were all really close,” he said. “It was a tragic accident. Moses was a friend of mine, and I haven’t even begun to think about him and his family.”

His sister, Elizabeth Seaman, of Effingham, N.H., talked Monday about the relationship he had with her daughters.

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“He loved my girls,” she said. “He was always very good with them. It’s hard. This doesn’t seem real.”

Seaman’s brother and sister spent Monday afternoon writing his obituary, which will likely appear in Wednesday’s newspaper.

His father, Michael Seaman of Sanford, said he loved his son very much.

“He has always been a part of me, and I will carry him with me for the rest of my life,” his father said.

Staff Writer Melanie Creamer can be contacted at 791-6361 or at: mcreamer@pressherald.com

 


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